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Tom
Merrifield was born in Sydney, Australia. He trained as
a classical dancer and became a soloist with the Borovonsky Ballet
at the age of sixteen; later he went to dance in musicals. In 1956
he moved to Britain where his first engagement, as a principal
dancer in 'Cinderella' at the London Coliseum, marked the beginning
of a very distinguished career as a show dancer. Amongst the many
stage musicals in which he subsequently appeared were: 'On The
Town', West Side Story', 'Man Of La Mancha' as well as in numerous
television productions. It was during his film engagements - which included 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang', 'Half A Sixpence', 'Young Ladies Of Rochfort' - that he started to draw his fellow dancers during long periods of waiting on the set. The development of this new found 'pastime' led to an invitation to exhibit his drawings at West End gallery. Shortly before the opening of this exhibition, the theme of which was Dance, Tom saw some sculptures that were intended to be exhibited in conjunction with his drawings. He instantly set o work, in his dressing room at the Adelphi Theatre where he was then the principal dancer in 'Showboat', and produced the model for his first figure in Bronze. His first sculptures were then substituted for those due to be exhibited and he received great acclaim from the critics. After Tom left the stage and took up drawing and sculpting as a full-time occupation, he never looked back. He has sculpted many of the world's most famous dancers, including Alicia Markova, Beryl Grey, Natalia Makarova, Antoinette Sibley, Eva Evdokimova, Galina Samsova, Marion Tait, Anton Dolin, John Gilpin, Anthony Dowell, Ivan Nagy, Peter Schaufuss, Wayne Sleep, Ken Wells, Agnes Oaks, Thomas Edur amongst others. In twenty eight years Tom has gained acclaim throughout the world and has exhibited and sold his work in London, Paris, New York, Edinburgh, Brussels, Monte Carlo and in many other cities. His work has also been recognized by the Royal Society of British Sculptors who elected him ARBS for 'Distinction in the Art of Sculpture'. Tom works from life, preferring to sketch and model his dancers in class or at his Hampstead Studio. He is a perfectionist and feels that there are so many avenues to explore - whether in drawing, painting or sculpture - that he never stops changing and evolving all the time; he also feels that one of the most important things is to be happy in what he is doing. In recent years he has completed several life sized sculptures, many of these gracing prominent public places worldwide. Possibly the most challenging and poignant is the bust of Diana, Princess of Wales, commissioned after her death by the British Red Cross, as a tribute to her work and dedication of a remarkable woman. This exquisite work is displayed at the Red Cross headquarters in London. Tom's work is in private collections throughout the world and he is recognized as being a major living artist. This was confirmed when the dancers of the Bolshoi Ballet presented him with a signed ballet shoe as their tribute to his talent. His technical knowledge of dance extends through his bronze and his drawings, not only capturing the grace and line of the dancer but, after he has the opportunity of working with a person, he finds that he begins to penetrate the various layers of their personality and fibre which then gives an extra dimension to his work. He says that the more he works in bronze, the more he realizes that he never gave up dancing but has continued to dance through his medium. Tom lives in Hampstead, London, and is married to Blackie, who has supported and promoted his work throughout his career. Life sized works are in the following public settings: • London - Royal Festival Hall • Malta - Hilton Hotel • Melbourne Australia - Victorian Arts Centre • Basingstoke, England - Town Centre • Michigan, USA - Mendel Centre for Arts • Chichester, England - The Festival Theatre • Borehamwood, England - Kinetic Centre • Epsom, England - The Playhouse Theatre • Poole, Dorset, England - Compton Acres (Gardens) • London - British Red Cross Headquarters |
